CVE-2026-26016: pterodactyl panel Unverified Ownership

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-26016 is a critical (CVSS 9.2) Unverified Ownership vulnerability in pterodactyl panel. EPSS estimates a 0.52% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 43.2% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 19-02-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 20-02-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

Wings is the server control plane for Pterodactyl, a free, open-source game server management panel. Prior to version 1.12.1, a missing authorization check in multiple controllers allows any user with access to a node secret token to fetch information about any server on a Pterodactyl instance, even if that server is associated with a different node. This issue stems from missing logic to verify that the node requesting server data is the same node that the server is associated with. Any authenticated Wings node can retrieve server installation scripts (potentially containing secret values) and manipulate the installation status of servers belonging to other nodes. Wings nodes may also manipulate the transfer status of servers belonging to other nodes. This vulnerability requires a user to acquire a secret access token for a node. Unless a user gains access to a Wings secret access token they would not be able to access any of these vulnerable endpoints, as every endpoint requires a valid node access token. A single compromised Wings node daemon token (stored in plaintext at `/etc/pterodactyl/config.yml`) grants access to sensitive configuration data of every server on the panel, rather than only to servers that the node has access to. An attacker can use this information to move laterally through the system, send excessive notifications, destroy server data on other nodes, and otherwise exfiltrate secrets that they should not have access to with only a node token. Additionally, triggering a false transfer success causes the panel to delete the server from the source node, resulting in permanent data loss. Users should upgrade to version 1.12.1 to receive a fix.

• CWE-283Unverified OwnershipThe product does not properly verify that a critical resource is owned by the proper entity.
• CWE-639Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled KeyThe system's authorization functionality does not prevent one user from gaining access to another user's data or record by modifying the key value identifying the data.